BreakingMark Garnier cleared over sex toy errand

He was under investigation following reports he asked his then secretary Caroline Edmonson to buy sex toys in 2010 and called her "sugar tits".

PA

The Cabinet Office today said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Garnier's conduct since 2016 had breached the Ministerial Code.

It added that it had also looked into the incident in 2010, concluding "there was no dispute about the facts of the incident" but there was a "significant difference of interpretation between the parties".

Its statement said the MP had no intention of causing distress, has apologised unreservedly and the Prime Minister Theresa May considers "a line should be drawn under the issue".

'Clear end date needed' for ban on all MPs employing family members

New MPs are already banned from doing so and campaigners want a deadline brought in for existing members to also conform to the new parliamentary standard.

The MP for the Wyre Forest Mark Garnier is the only member in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to employ a family member - his wife Caroline is employed as his office manager.

The ban on new MPs employing family members reflects the public's concerns about nepotism and the potential abuse of public money. A transitional period is reasonable, particularly as the snap election means that these rules have come into force three years earlier than expected. However, there does need to be a clear end date."

Alexandra RunswickDirector of Unlock Democracy

Posted at14:1922 Jun2017

MP to seek assurances over tower block safety

A Worcestershire MP is meeting with the fire service today to seek reassurances over tower blocks after the Grenfell fire tragedy.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier's talks - with Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service - come as Theresa May confirms that tests carried out in response to the Grenfell blaze have found "combustible" cladding on a number of high-rises around the country.

Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils have taken the step of contacting a contractor that fitted cladding to properties in both areas - they say it is different to the material used on Grenfell tower and is "low risk".

Worcester's tower block in St John's also uses different cladding. No councils in Herefordshire or Worcestershire have flagged up any concerns about high rises following the fire.

Posted at13:309 Jun2017

Slideshow: General election results for Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Here are the full results for each of the constituencies in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.